Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark Read Free Book Online

shelf. In it she kept whatever summer clothes she and Gigi had. She yanked the box down, opened it, pulled out the contents, and threw them on the shelf. She folded the uniform and coat into the box, closed it, ran to the bed, and fished under it for the Christmas wrappings she had stored there.
    With frantic fingers she wrapped candy-cane paper around the box and tied it with a ribbon. Then she carried it into the living room and put it under the tree. She hadjust completed the task when she heard the downstairs buzzer. Smoothing back her hair, and forcing a welcoming smile for Gigi, she went to answer it.
    It was Detective Shore and the other detective who had been with him this morning who came up the stairs. “Playing games again, Cally?” Shore asked. “I hope not.”

7

    B rian huddled in the passenger seat as Jimmy Siddons drove up the East River Drive. He had never felt so afraid before. He’d been scared when the man made him climb up that fire escape to the roof. Then he’d practically been dragged from one roof to another as they went the length of the block, finally going down through an empty building and onto the street where this car was parked.
    The man had pushed Brian into the car and snapped on the seat belt. “Just remember to call me Daddy if anyone stops us,” he had warned him.
    Brian knew the man’s name was Jimmy. That was what the woman had called him. She had looked so worried about Brian. When Jimmy pulled him through the window,she had been crying, and Brian could tell how scared she was for him. She knew his parents’ names. Maybe she would call the cops. If she did, would they come looking for him? But Jimmy said he’d kill him if the cops came. Would he?
    Brian huddled deeper in the seat. He was scared and hungry. And he had to go to the bathroom, but he was afraid to ask. His only comfort was the medal that now lay against his chest on the outside of his jacket. It had brought Grandpa home from the war. It was going to make Daddy well. And it was going to get him home safe, too. He was sure of it.
    Jimmy Siddons glanced briefly at his small hostage. For the first time since he had broken out of the prison, he was beginning to relax. It was still snowing, but if it didn’t get any worse than this, it was nothing to worry about. Cally wouldn’t call the cops. He was positive of that. She knew him well enough to believe him when he said he would kill the kid if he was stopped.
    I’m not going to rot in prison for the rest of my life, he thought, and I’m not giving them the chance to pump me full of poison. Either I make it, or I don’t.
    But I will . He smiled grimly. He knew there had to be an APB out on him and they’d be watching all the bridges and tunnels out of New York. But they had no idea wherehe was heading, and they certainly weren’t looking for a father and son traveling in a car that wasn’t reported stolen yet.
    He’d pulled out all the presents he had seen the couple stash in the trunk. Now they were piled on the backseat, bundles of Christmas cheer. Those presents, coupled with the kid in the front, meant even if toll takers had been alerted to be on the lookout, they’d never glance twice at him now.
    And in eight or nine hours he would be across the border and into Canada, where Paige would be waiting. And then he would find a nice deep lake that would be the final destination of this car and all the nice presents in the backseat.
    And this kid with his St. Christopher medal.
    *   *   *
    The awesome power of the New York City Police Department ground methodically into gear as plans were laid to assure that Jimmy Siddons did not slip between their fingers, just in case, at the last minute, he panicked and decided not to surrender after midnight Mass.
    As soon as their wiretap recorded Cally’s phone calls from Jimmy, and to his lawyer, Jack Shore had called in the